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This is useful when cooking for more people. Abbreviations like ‘oz’, ‘pt’, ‘qt’, and ‘gal’ are commonly used. Understanding that 16 tablespoons make 1 cup, 2 cups equal a pint, and 4 quarts make 1 gallon helps cooks scale up recipes with ease. Small Measurement. Equivalent. Pinch.
- Al dente — Usually used in reference to pasta, this terms literally means “to the tooth” in Italian. Al dente means there should be a little bit of toothsome texture left in the noodle — as in it’s 90% cooked through, but not 100%.
- Baste — Basting just means to bathe a food in liquid while it’s cooking. This liquid could be melted fat, butter, or its own juices. Why? Basting does a few things.
- Blanch — To blanch means to flash-boil something in salted boiling water, literally just a few seconds to a few minutes. Usually followed by “refreshing,” which means to sink the food into a bowl of ice-cold water to quickly stop cooking.
- Brine — To brine simply means to salt ahead of time. There are two kinds of brining: dry brining and wet brining. Dry brining means to rub something with granulated salt, while wet brining means to soak something in salty water.
Aug 13, 2024 · Bake: To cook in an oven, usually at moderate temperatures (around 350°F). Baking sheet: A large, flat metal sheet such as a cookie sheet or sheet pan. Some are totally flat; some have rims. Batter: A pourable mixture prior to baking, often used for making pancakes, muffins, and quick breads.
To mix ingredients in a circular motion with a spoon or fork until well blended. Stir Fry. To cook in a frying pan or wok over high heat in a small amount of fat, stirring constantly. Sweat. To cook gently, usually in butter, a bit of oil, or the foods own juices to soften but not brown the food. Toast.
- Prepping
- Measurements
- Oven Cooking
- Stovetop Cooking
- Frying
- Braising
- Moist Cooking
Before you start cooking, you need to prepare – or prep – your ingredients. If cut ingredients are needed, the recipe will state the exact size that's needed. A slice is when a large ingredient — such as potatoes or onions — is cut into large, flat pieces of a similar size. Depending on your recipe, the slices can be thin or thick. For example, you...
Some recipes are precise, while others leave adjusting the seasonings up to the cook. These hazy terms can often lead to confusion. A dashis roughly 1/8 teaspoon. A pinch, based on the amount of spice you can literally "pinch" between your fingers, is around 1/16 teaspoon. Barely worth mentioning, a smidgenis approximately 1/32 teaspoon. It's often...
Most cooking in the oven is done with dry heat. This is when fat or air is used to transfer heat, instead of moisture (see Moist Cooking below). Bake and roast refer to the same process, but with the latter at higher temperatures. When preheating your oven, the air inside warms to a temperature of your setting. This hot air cooks your food at an ev...
These dry-heat cooking methods take place on the stovetop instead of the oven. Sauté means to quickly cook food over high heat. This cooking method often includes oil or fat to evenly transfer the heat from the pan into the food. You'll need to occasionally stir or shake the pan you're cooking in to avoid burning the food and to promote even browni...
Despite seeming oxymoronic, frying is considered a dry heat cooking method. Oil is the heat conductor, not water, so it's considered "dry." Deep fry is when your ingredient is fully submerged in hot oil. This creates an irresistibly crispy exterior on all sides. Your recipe should tell you what temperature to aim for when heating the oil, which can...
A braise stands in its own category, since it's a pairing of both dry and moist cooking techniques. Braising is primarily used to prepare tougher cuts of meat. In a large pot, the meat is browned on all sides. Then it's covered with liquid and cooked low and slow until fall-off-the-bone tender. By searing the meat beforehand, you'll have all that c...
Since all of these techniques include water, they've earned the label of "moist cooking." Boiling, a common introduction to moist cooking, is when water is heated to 212 degrees F. This makes the water produce bubbles and movement, which is why some recipes will instruct you to bring your water to a "rolling boil." Boiling is often used for cooking...
- Hayley Sugg
Boil: To heat a liquid over high heat until bubbles rise and break continually on the surface. Braise: To cook meat or poultry slowly with a small amount of liquid in a covered pot. Broil: To cook food under direct heat, usually on a rack. Carmelize: To cook a fruit or vegetable slowly until it becomes brown and sweet.
Ultimate Guide to Cooking Terms A-Z. We are continually compiling an alphabetical index of essential culinary terms. Cooking terms A-Z is a dictionary with simple explanations for every cooking enthusiast, from beginner through professional. What is acidity in food?
